Use of at least one protein extract of the moringa genus plant seeds and corresponding cosmetic and/or pharmacological composition

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns the use of at least one protein extract of the Moringa genus plant seeds and a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical composition containing at least one such extract. More particularly, the invention concerns the use of a protein extract of the Moringa genus plant seeds belonging to the Moringaceae family, as active principle, on its own or combined with at least another active principle, for preparing a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical composition for topical use on the skin and/or skin appendages.

The present invention relates to the field of cosmetology anddermatology, more particularly cosmetics for the care of the skin andnails and hair, and has for its object the use, for cosmetic,dermatologic and/or pharmaceutical applications, of at least one proteicextract of seeds of a plant of the genus Moringa, as well as a cosmeticand/or pharmaceutical composition containing at least one such extract.

The genus Moringa comprises some 14 species of plants (of whichparticularly Moringa peregrina, M. aptera, M. concanensis, M.drouhardii, M. hildebrandtii, M. longituba), among which Moringapterygosperma (synonym: Moringa oleifera) is the best known.

It is a tree that grows rapidly and which adapts very well to variableconditions, spread throughout the tropics, in Asia, Africa and SouthAmerica. The fruits are 30 to 50 cm long, hanging like drumsticks, fromwhich comes the English name “drumstick tree”, and its green pods areused as vegetables throughout the world. As a result, the seeds arerarely left to ripen for the production of oil.

The different parts of the tree (leaves, roots, root bark, flowers,seeds) are used in traditional medicine in the countries where it isfound.

The seeds of Moringa are characterized by the presence of an oil whosecontent varies between 21 and 53% according to the species and maturityof the seeds.

For the species Moringa oleifera, the contents mentioned in theliterature range from 21 to 34%.

The comparison of the oils of the seeds of Moringa oleifera, Mr.peregrina, M. concanensis and M. drouhardii show a very similar fattyacid content, these oils all having a very high content of oleic acid(71 to 78%) and saturated fatty acids.

Behenic acid (C₂₂H_(44 O) ₂) is the saturated fatty acid typical ofMoringa oil (content 2.6 to 4.7%).

Because of its excellent stability against oxidation and its goodproperties as a perfume fixative, Moringa oil, also called Behen or Benoil, was in ancient civilizations the oil most used by the producers ofunguents for cosmetic and religious uses.

This oil was used by cosmetic formulators until the nineteenth centuryand its use has been recently “rediscovered”.

In addition to their oil content, Moringa seeds have recently claimedthe attention of researchers because they are used conventionally forthe clarification of water and thus have an economic potential for thetreatment and purification of water in developing countries.

It has moreover been shown that the seeds of six species of Moringa thatare the most frequent and cultivated contain flocculent compounds.

The compounds responsible for this activity have been isolated andidentified: they are compounds of proteic nature (see particularly thearticles: “Isolation and characterization of a flocculating protein fromMoringa oleifera lam”, by U. Gassenschmidt, K. D. Jany, B. Tausche andH. R. Niebergall, Biochimica and biophysics acta, 1243:477-481,1995—“Active agents and mechanism of coagulation of turbid waters usingMoringa oleifera”, of A. Ndabigengesere, K. Subba Narasiah and B. G.Talbot, Water research, 29, 2:703-710, 1995).

From delipidated flour of Moringa oleifera seeds, these proteins havebeen extracted in a buffered aqueous medium, then isolated by cationexchange chromatography.

These flocculent proteins are eluted with an NaCl gradient and areconstituted by three active fractions called MO1, MO2, and MO3.

A second chromatographic step permits separating MO2 into three newactive fractions called (MO2.1, MO2.2 and MO2.3).

With PAGE electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions, MO2.1, MO2.2seem to be homogeneous whilst MO2.3 is constituted by several proteins.

However, with SDS-PAGE, two bands corresponding to the PM 6.5 kDa and 7kDa are observed for the proteins MO2.1 and MO2.2, which thus would bedimers.

Isoelectrofocalization shows that the isoelectric point of theseflocculent proteins is 10.

The amino acid composition of MO2.1 has been determined and shows thatthis protein contains 60 amino acids with a high content of glutamine(15 residues), arginine (7 residues) and proline (7 residues), the endterminal being blocked by a pyroglutamate function.

The inventors of the present invention have discovered in an unexpectedand surprising manner, that the proteic extracts of Moringa seeds, knownfor their turbid water clarifying properties, also have new and originalproperties whose beneficial effects on the skin and nails and hair,associated with very high tolerance, renders them directly usable incare cosmetology and in pharmacology, in particular for dermatologicalapplications.

Thus, the principal object of the present invention consists in the useof at least one proteic fraction extracted from seeds of a plant of thegenus Moringa belonging to the family of the Moringaceae, as the activeprincipal, alone or in association with at least one other activeprincipal, for the preparation of a cosmetic and/or pharmaceuticalcomposition for topical application for the skin and/or the nails andhair.

The new properties of these proteic extracts flow directly from theirparticular nature and properties, particularly their basic isoelectricpoint and their flocculent capacity.

There have particularly been noted an emollient effect, conditioning andhydrating effects because of the great substantivity and chelatingeffects, rendering them suitable in the field of anti-pollutionactivity.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the proteicfraction or fractions consist in one or more extracts of the plantMoringa oleifera, this or these proteic fraction or fractionscontaining, based on the dry extract, a protein content comprisedbetween 0.01% and 100% by weight, preferably of about 45% by weight.

Preferably, the proteic fraction or fractions is or are extracted withwater or an aqueous solution, particularly saline solutions at differentpHs, as the case may be by means of an ultrasonic generator.

Thus, the proteic fraction or fractions is or are constituted by one ormore aqueous extracts, saline medium extracts with different pHs, or abuffered medium of whole or decorticated seeds, partially or totallydelipitized, by a proteic concentrate, by purified proteins or by amixture of at least two of the mentioned constituents and having anisoelectric point greater than 7, preferably comprised between 8 and 12.

The proteic fraction or fractions utilized as active principal arepreferably obtained by:

precipitation at the isoelectric point at a pH comprised between 8 and12

ion exchange chromatography.

an extraction process selected from the group formed by affinitychromatography, gel filtration, ultrafiltration, solvent precipitation,of salts such as ammonium sulfate or the like or else by precipitationwith the aid of organic polymers or by temperature variation.

Moreover, it has been determined that, in the case of precipitation atthe isoelectric point, obtaining the proteic fraction or fractions ispromoted by a temperature below ambient temperature, particularly by atemperature of about +4° C.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1-3 are chromatographic profiles resulting from analysis by gelpermeation of the extracts obtained in Examples 1, 2, and 4,respectively;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show respectively, for undamaged specimen hair and forhair damaged by permanent waving, the effects of the extracts of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the results of tests of substantivity of theextracts of the present invention, on the corneal layer evaluated by invitro cutaneous hydration measurements:

FIG. 6 shows the hydration of the skin when the cutaneous zone ispretreated according to the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show the penetration of carbon particles into thecorneal layer of skin respectively with and without the practice of thepresent invention; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B show images of stripping of the skin respectivelywithout and with the practice of the present invention.

By way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, there will bedescribed hereafter different processes for obtaining and preparingextracts of seeds of proteic fractions of Moringa seeds, usable in theframework of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of Extract 1

Kernels of Moringa oleifera obtained after decorticating seeds andcontaining 33.4% (weight/weight) of oil, are delipidated by twosuccessive extractions with refluxing in hexane and, after filtration,the flour is oven-dried at 40° C. and has a residual oil content of2.5%.

In a reactor there is added 200 g of delipidated flour to 2 liters ofdistilled water.

After 10 minutes of agitation, the pH is adjusted to 7.5 by addition of4N NaOH and the extraction is then carried out for one hour at ambienttemperature while maintaining the pH at 7.5.

Insolubles are eliminated by centrifugation for 15 minutes at 5000 g.

The supernatant is corrected and then filtered at 0.45 μm: there is thusobtained 1.77 liter of filtrate of yellow color, containing 4.69% of dryextract and having a concentration of proteins measured by the Biuretmethod, of 21.54 g/l (namely a proteic purity on a dry extract basis of20 45.92%).

The extract is dehydrated by spraying and 65.72 grams of material areobtained, having a protein content estimated at 54.7% (N×6.25).

Taking account of the eluted peaks between the excluded volume and thetotal volume of the column, the chromatographic profile resulting fromanalysis by gel permeation on a Superose column 12HR of this extract(see FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings) shows a major fraction whichrepresents 52% of the surface and which corresponds to molecular weightsbetween 7,800 and 11,000 Da. The presence of shoulders on the peakconfirms the existence of several compounds and the range of molecularweights is near that given in the literature for monomers (6,500 and7,000 Da) and dimers (13,000 Da) of flocculent proteins of Moringa.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of Extract 2

300g of flour delipidized according to Example 1 are extracted so as toobtain a crude aqueous extract.

The pH of the filtrate (2.74 liters) is adjusted to 11.8 by progressiveaddition of 4N NaOH.

Precipitation begins at about pH 8.0 (turbidity point of the solution)and after 30 minutes the solution is centrifuged for 15 minutes at 5,000g.

The precipitated binder is collected (43.2 g moist) then washed twicewith 500ml of distilled water at pH 11.8.

The precipitate is then dissolved in 270 ml of distilled water (namely10% of the initial volume) and the pH of the solution is adjustedcontinuously to 4.5 by 6N HCl so as to permit the solubilization of theprecipitate (the dispersion is facilitated by use of an apparatus knownby the designation Turax).

After 30 minutes of agitation, the mixture is centrifuged for 15 minutesat 5000 g to eliminate insolubles and the supernatant is filter on aBuchner provided with a Whatman filter No. 41.

There is thus obtained 260 ml of concentrated proteic, yellow and clear,which is dehydrated by lyophilization.

In this way, 11.5 grams of lyophilizate are obtained with a weightcontent of protein of 90-95%.

Analysis by gel permeation on a Superose column 12HR of this extract(see FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings) shows a major fraction whichrepresents 70% of the surface and which corresponds to molecular weightsof about 8,800 Da.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of Extract 3

Oil of kernels obtained by decortication of the seeds of Moringaoleifera is extracted by pressure in a press of a type known as KOMETand the oil cake obtained is crushed so as to obtain a homogeneousflour.

A crude extract is prepared from 1.24 kg of oil cake according to themanner of operation described in Examples 1 and 2.

The proteins are precipitated at pH 11.8 according to Example 2, but asupplementary decantation step for one night at +40° C. is introduced soas to permit better precipitation of the proteins.

The precipitate is treated under the same conditions as in Example 2(the pH of the solution for reconstituting the precipitate being however6 instead of 4.5).

The proteic concentrate thus obtained (1.05 liter with 4.59% of dryextract) is dehydrated by spraying and 34.6 grams of the dried materialare collected, which is a yield by spraying on the basis of the dryextract of 71.5%.

The protein content on the basis of measuring the nitrogen (N×6.25) isgreater than 90% (about 95%).

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of Extract 4

A crude extract is prepared from 150g of oil cake according to theprocedure described in Examples 1, 2 and 3.

After filtration at 0.5 μm, there is obtained 1.35 liter of clear yellowfiltrate.

100 grams of carboxymethylcellulose (CM52, WHATMAN) are placed inequilibrium for 30 minutes in 500 ml of distilled water at pH 7.5.

The mixture is filtered on a Buchner provided with a WHATMAN filter No.42, then the cellulose is collected and equilibrated again in 500 ml ofwater at pH 7.5.

After elimination of the aqueous medium by filtration, the cellulose iscontacted with agitation for one hour at ambient temperature, with theaqueous extract of oil cake of kernels of Moringa oleifera.

The non-adsorbed compounds (fractions whose chromatographic profile isrepresented in broken lines in FIG. 3) are eliminated by Buchnerfiltration and the “loaded” cellulose is then washed twice with oneliter of distilled water at pH 7.5 and then Buchner filtered.

The cellulose is then contacted with 120 ml of a solution of NaCl 60g/l,pH 7.5, for 30 minutes.

The proteins eluted in the NaCl medium are recovered by Buchnerfiltration (the chromatographic profile of the proteins adsorbed on CM52 and eluted in 60 g/l NaCl, is shown in full line in FIG. 3).

There is thus obtained 110 ml of filtrate with a dry extract content of9.63% and with a protein concentration of 64.6 g/l (which is to say aprotein purity of 67% on the basis of the dry extract).

Analysis by gel permeation on a Superose column 12HR of this extract(see FIG. 3) shows a major fraction which represents 70% of the surfaceand which corresponds to molecular weights of about 7,100 Da.

The solution can be desalinated by dialysis, or by ultrafiltration anddehydrated by lyophilization, spraying or any other suitable means.

The activities and advantages of the products prepared according to theinvention will become clearly apparent in the light of the explanatorydescription of the tests carried out by the inventors and givenhereafter simply by way of illustration and not limitation.

The substantive effect of the proteic fractions of Moringa seedsprepared according to the preceding examples (Extracts 1, 3 and 4) hasbeen evaluated by the desorption test on undamaged natural human hairsand on hairs damaged by permanent waving.

The protocol of the evaluation of adsorption of a substantive agent onthe keratin of hair is based on the analysis of the desorbed substanceunder specific conditions.

The substantive protein of peptidic nature has been extracted from hairunder two different conditions:

high temperature (50° C., 1 hour)

high ionic force (0.5 M NaCl, 16 hours),

and measured in extraction liquids after reaction with fluorescamine(reaction with primary amines) by the spectrofluorimetric method (Tegliaet al., 1992). The reaction with fluorescamine was carried out in aborate buffer at pH 8 for Extract 1 and at pH 6 for Extracts 3 and 4.

The results are given in Table I hereafter and in the accompanying FIGS.4A and 4B which show, respectively for undamaged specimen hair (FIG. 4A)and for hair damaged by permanent waving (FIG. 4B), the substantiveeffect of Extracts 1, 3 and 4 applied to strands of human hair at aconcentration of 2% (evaluation by desorption).

TABLE I Undamaged natural Hair damaged by Extracts hair permanent waving1 3.53 mg/g hair 4.81 mg/g hair 3 1.24 mg/g hair 1.02 mg/g hair 4 0.84mg/g hair 1.21 mg/g hair

The substantive effect on the corneal layer of the proteic fractions ofMoringa seeds has been evaluated on the dehydration model of the corneallayer in vitro (Obata and Tagami, 1990).

The evaluation protocol consisting in treating squares of isolatedcorneal layer of human skin, either with solutions of 2% of substantiveprotein (Extracts 1, 3 and 4), or by distilled water as a standard.

After standing rinsing and drying, the corneal layer is mounted on an invitro cutaneous hydratation evaluation model for measurement of itsdielectric conductivity.

After measuring the dielectric conductivity from a condition ofcontrolled humidity HR=44%, the corneal layer has been humidified in astandard way and measurements of conductivity have been carried out 1,2, 4, 6 and 24 hours after application of the distilled water.

The corneal layer in the presence of a substantive product is hydratedfor a long time (=better retention of water).

The results relative to the tests of substantivity of Extracts 1, 3 and4 on the corneal layer evaluated by in vitro cutaneous hydrationmeasurements, are shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B (Mean of 10tests/+/−SEM/ANOVA at 1 factor/Test a posteriori Fischer).

It will be noted that Extracts 3 and 4 have accentuated and prolongedthe hydrating effect of the corneal layer: increase of electricalconductivity of 50% was significant up to 4 hours after application,with a hydrating effect observable to 24 hours after application.

The substantive effect of the proteic fractions of Moringa (Extracts 1,3 and 4) have been verified in vivo in humans by study of thehydro-retention property of an aqueous solution measured at 1.5% ofextract and 1.5% of polyvinyl pyrrolidone sold by the BASF company underthe name Kollidon 30 (filmogenic product).

Five cutaneous regions of the antero-internal surface of a forearm wereused, for the electrical capacitance measurement of hydration suppliedby a compress soaked in purified water, every 30 seconds for 2 minutes.A zone was untreated, the three following being treated first with 4μl/cm² of an aqueous solution measuring 1.5% of Extract 1, 3 or 4 and1.5% of Kollidon 30 and the last by 4 μl/cm² of an aqueous solutionmeasuring 1.5% of Kollidon 30 alone.

The results shown in FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings (showinghydro-retention on a subject) show that the hydration of the skin isgreater when the cutaneous zone is pre-treated by the mixture of theextract plus Kollidon 30, compared to a untreated reference zone orcontaining only the filmogen.

The solutions measured at 1.5% extract +1.5% Kollidon 30 therefore havea hydro-retentive activity by substantive effect.

Already known for their clarifying effects on turbid waters, the Moringaproteins have also been shown, in a surprising and unexpected way, tohave an anti-pollution effect on human skin by captation of particlessuch as vegetal carbon.

This clarifying property of the proteic fractions of Moringa seeds hasbeen verified in vitro, by introducing into test tubes, 0.75 ml of anaqueous solution of Extract 1 with 20 3 ml of aqueous solution ofvegetable carbon at 0.5%, compared to 0.25 ml of distilled water butalso in contact with 3 ml of the same aqueous carbon suspension.

There has been observed, after one hour of contact, in the tubecontaining extract 1, that the black suspension of initial carbon hadleft into place a black precipitate at the bottom of the tube and awater supernatant that is perfectly clear, whilst in the tube withoutextract, the aqueous suspension of black carbon changed very little.

It has moreover been noted that, in a desirable manner, the addition ofa filmogenic compound such as Kollidon 30 (trademark forpolyvinylpyrrolidone), further accelerates the process of clarification.

A test in vivo in humans permits the observation that an aqueoussolution of polluting vegetable carbon applied to the skin, gave rise tosubstantial soiling of the surface with penetration of the particlesinto the superficial levels of the corneal layer.

The effectiveness of Extract 1 as a cutaneous depollutant against thesoiling effect of carbon and against penetration of polluting particlesinto the corneal layer, has also been experimentally evaluated.

The test carried out under standardized conditions consisted in applyingto the anterior-internal surface of the forearm a mixture of the extractof Moringa and Kollidon, measured each to be 1.5% in water, in theamount of 4 mg/cm². This treatment was followed by voluntary pollutionof the skin with the same aqueous carbon solution measuring 0.5w. Theskin was then rinsed with distilled water without rubbing, the rinsingwater being taken up by suction.

Then a “stripping” or coating (with a film support) has been applied tothe skin, and then taken off.

Microscopically, at a magnification of 100, there was observed on theone hand the reference stripping of the state of the skin at its surfaceand, on the other hand, the cutaneous microcontour with the first levelsof the corneal layer, after stripping or layering.

Correspondingly, the same pollution was applied to a cutaneous regionwithout preliminary treatment.

The images of the skin under 100-fold magnification after stripping orlayering permitted showing a very great decrease of the penetration ofthe carbon particles into the corneal layer of the skin pre-treated bythe mixture of the extract of Moringa and Kollidon (FIG. 7B) compared tothe reference skin (FIG. 7A) for which the penetration was much greater.

Microscopic images of the strippings carried out on skin pre-treatedwith a mixture of extract +Kollidon (FIG. 8B) have been a great decreasein the quantity of carbon particles, proving that the same mixture ofextract and Kollidon permitted in the course of the rinsing operation amuch more efficacious cleaning of the skin. Thus, by comparison with thestripping of the skin previously untreated with extract (FIG. 8A),numerous particles of carbon which were not eliminated by the rinsingoperation remained stuck to the stripping material.

The Moringa extract therefore exerts an antipollution activity in twoseparate and complementary manners:

it captures the particles of carbon and, in combination with a filmogen,it prevents these latter from penetrating the corneal layer,

by retaining the carbon particles, it promotes their elimination in thecourse of a simple rinsing operation.

Extracts according to the above invention can be used not only forapplications of health care of the skin (products for the face and thebody, day products and night products, solar products, anti-wrinklehygienic products, anti-pollution products), but also in the field ofcapillary care and hygiene (lotion or shampoo, creams, foams, protectiveproducts, repairing products, emollients and photoprotectors or elseproducts for permanent waving and hair coloring), products for the nails(creams, lotions, lacquers, hydrating agents, filmogens, protectors andrepairers) and finally products for the lips (lipsticks, lip rouge,balm, hydrating material, filmogens).

Thus, the present invention also has for its object a cosmetic and/orpharmaceutical composition, particularly for topical use for the skin orthe nails or hair, characterized in that it contains, as activeprincipal, alone or associated with at least one other active principal,one or several proteic fractions as described above, with a weightcontent comprised between 0.01% and 80%, preferably about 2%.

The proteic fractions obtained according to the present invention can beused either in the natural form (natural proteins), without structuralmodification, or in a modified or functionalized form by any one of thefollowing treatments:

polymerization by natural proteins extracted from plants of the genusMoringa,

fermentation by microbial or vegetable cells,

chemical hydrolysis of the natural proteins extracted from the plant ofthe genus Moringa,

enzymatic hydrolysis of the natural proteins by proteins of animal orvegetable, microbial or fungal origin,

chemical or enzymatic functionalization,

chemical modification by grafting molecules or compounds such as forexample oses, osides, lipids or the like.

They can also be incorporated in or associated with any suitablecosmetic vector such as for example filogenic agents, liposomes,cyclodextrins, micelles, chylomicrons, macro-, micro- and nano-particlesas well as macro-, micro-, and nano-capsules, or else be absorbed orgrafted on organic polymers or mineral supports.

As a result, it has been determined and shown above that the proteicextract fractions have particularly substantive and hydrating activitiesfor the skin, lips and nails and hair, in particular the epidermis, andparticularly the corneal layer and its cutaneous annexes, namely skin,hair and nails, as well as physiological conditioning effects on theskin, lips and nails and hair, restructuring, repairing and hydratingthe skin and the nails and hair, anti-wrinkle effects and anti-pollutioneffects (skin, lips, hair).

By way of non-limiting examples of practical embodiments of thecomposition according to the invention, there will be describedhereafter different products or cosmetic preparations comprising atleast one proteic extract of seeds of the plant Moringa oleifera.

EXAMPLE 1

A cosmetic product in the form of a hydrating and repairing milk can forexample have a weight composition, constituted of the following aqueousand fatty phases, as indicated hereafter.

Fatty phase: Isostearyl and Diglyceryl Succinate 3.00 Paraffin oil 15.00Quaternary 18 Hectorite 0.50 Poly (PEG-22/Dodecyl Glycol) 1.00 Aqueousphase: Magnesium sulfate 0.80 Butylene glycol 4.00 Protein extract ofMoringa oleifera 1.00 (according to Example 1) and Distilled water 9.00Elestab 4112 (Laboratoires 0.35 Sérobiologiques) Perfume 0.30 Distilledwater qsp 100.00

The process of preparation of the above hydrating and repairing milkconsists essentially in bringing the fatty phase to 80° C., bringing thewater of the aqueous phase also to 80° C. and dissolving in it thepreservative (Elestab 4112), then pouring the aqueous phase into thefatty phase with turbine agitation and progressively cooling withagitation, then adding thereto, at about 50C., the mother aqueoussolution of proteic extract of Moringa, then the perfume and, finally,continuing agitation until cooling is complete.

EXAMPLE 2

A cosmetic product in the form of a anti-wrinkle repairing cream could,for example, have a weight composition, constituted of the followingaqueous and fatty phases, as indicated hereafter.

Fatty phase: Ceteareth 25 2.00 Ceteareth 6 (and) stearylic 1.00 StearylAlcohol Cetyl alcohol 4.00 Glycerol stearate 4.00 Petrolatum 5.00Caprylic/capric triglycerides 5.00 Aqueous phase: Glycerin 10.00Proteins of Moringa Oleifera 1.50 (prepared according to Example 2) andDistilled water 8.50 Preservative Elestab 4112 0.40 (LaboratoiresSérobiologiques) Perfume 0.30 Distilled water qsp 100

The process for the production of the above antiwrinkle repairing creamconsists essentially in bringing the fatty phase to 80C., bringing theaqueous phase also to 80° C. and dissolving therein the Elestab 4112,separately preparing the mother solution of proteic extract of Moringaoleifera, pouring the fatty phase into the aqueous phase with turbineagitation, then, at about 50° C., introducing thereinto the mothersolution of extract of Moringa and finally continuing agitation untilcool.

EXAMPLE 3

A cosmetic product in the form of a hydrating and anti-pollution daycream could, for example, have a weight composition, constituted fromthe following aqueous and fatty phases, as indicated hereafter.

Fatty phase: Glycerol stearate 14.00 Octyldodecanol 6.00 Dibutyl adipate6.00 Ceteareth 12 1.50 Ceteareth 20 1.50 Aqueous phase: PVP 0.50Glycerin 4.00 Elestab 388 2.00 (Laboratoires Sérobiologiques) Proteicextract of Moringa 1.00 (Extract No. 2) and Distilled water 9.00 Perfume0.20 Distilled water qsp 100

The process for preparation of the above hydrating and anti-pollutionday cream consists in bringing the fatty phase to 80° C., bringing theaqueous phase also to 80° C. and dissolving therein the Elestab 388 andPVP, pouring the fatty phase into the aqueous phase with turbineagitation at 80° C., then progressively cooling with agitation andthereafter introducing, at about 50° C., the mother dispersion ofMoringa proteins and finally continuing agitation until cool.

EXAMPLE 4

A cosmetic product in the form of an anti-pollution and biofilmogenicreparative unrinsed capillary lotion could for example have a weightcomposition as indicated hereafter.

Proteins of Moringa prepared according to Example 4 0.50 Distilled water9.50 Hydroxyethylcellulose 0.50 Elestab 305 (LaboratoiresSérobiologiques) 0.50 Perfume 0.10 Cremophor RH40 0.30 Distilled waterqsp 100.00

The process of preparation of the anti-pollution and biofilmogenicreparative unrinsed capillary lotion consists essentially in dissolvingElestab 505 and hydroxyethylcellulose in water heated to about 50° C.,dispersing therein the perfume and Cremophar RH40, then bringing themixture to ambient temperature, and then dissolving therein the proteinsof Moringa and finally filtering.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments.Modifications remain possible, particularly as to the construction ofthe various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents,without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of hydrating, repairing, producinganti-wrinkle effects and/or producing anti-pollution effects for skin,lips, nails and/or hair of a person, comprising applying a compositionto said skin, lips, nails and/or hair of said person, said compositioncomprising an effective amount of an extract of a plant of the genusMoringa belonging to the family Moringacaea, in admixture with atopically acceptable excipient; the improvement wherein said extract isa protein fraction extracted from seeds of said plant.